Jason has always lived under the protection of his twenty brothers and sisters. Even though he cares for his neighbor, Will, when a chance to leave the home he's lived in forever, Jason takes the chance and runs to White Pine. Unfortunately, some of his brothers are coming along for the ride.

Will can't believe his shy chipmunk just up and moved. Through the meddling of Jason's sisters and a best friend who lives in White Pine, Will chases Jason to White Pine. Will they be able find the connection in White Pine where they couldn't at home?

Words: 13,000

Excerpt:

Chapter One

This absolutely, positively sucks, Jason thought as he stood in front of Livingston's tiny rental with his three brothers. The snow was coming down heavy and he tucked his chin into his jacket to keep his face from freezing. If he didn't have to meet this Livingston person for the first time, he would have shifted and saved himself the pain. Someone had to be civil for this introduction; it sure as hell wasn't going to be his brothers.

A few minutes later, Jason saw a man running the last few yards before he got to the snow-covered sidewalk near them on the porch. The guy wasn't paying attention in the least because he almost ran face-first into Nikko. Damn, this guy was going to have to grow a better set of eyes if he was willing to open his home to his brothers.

"Shit, Nikko, sorry about that." Livingston stared down at his friend, then over at the chipmunks sitting on each of Nikko's shoulders. Jason cringed, anticipating some antic from his brothers. They were... well, they were... hell, he just hoped White Pine didn't have a prison or Winslow and Sparks would have a frequent flyer card there.

"Where are you running to so fast?" Nikko chuckled...and why was he acting so damn nervous? Did Nikko not tell his friend who he was saddling him with? Jason's eyes widened. The hell he didn't. This was an epic party foul in the making.

"Just... cold. Who are these guys?" Livingston leaned toward one of the chipmunks, reaching for one with his index finger when the little sucker hissed and spread out his tiny arms at him. Jason smacked his forehead. Oh hell... here it comes.

The chipmunk started making little squeaking noises before it fell off and shifted in midair. Sparks lay naked on the ground before Livingston, laughing his ass off, holding his stomach.

"Oh shit! It's cold. Did you see him? Scared the fuck out of him." Sparks cackled like a deranged man. Jason shook his head. There was no way this was going to work.

Nikko pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're naked in the snow. Nice first impression, Sparks."

Sparks didn't give a damn. Everyone knew that as he continued to chuckle, then stood up before sauntering up the steps. "Damn, I love me some nuts, but mine are moving up into my body. It's freezing here."

The other chipmunk, Winslow, squeaked on Nikko's shoulder, and Jason could tell his damn brother was laughing.

Nikko snorted.

Not you too, Nikko. It's all fun and games, Nikko, until we live with you in that tiny fucking den of yours. Dallas will kill the lot of us!

"I'm... Jason," Jason said quietly. There was no need to add to the bizarreness of the situation. Best to be like always, go unnoticed.

However, someone had noticed him once. And he'd run. Fucking ran, terrified, and now his chance at being with that special person was lost. Jason glanced down at his boots as he toed the cold snow. He wasn't used to seeing so much of the stuff and wondered if he made the right decision. After Christmas, he'd had a chance to move up there with his brothers. Jason had been confused about Will and confessed it all to Nikko. Nikko's suggestion rang clear in his head, Take a break and see other places. If you miss him, you can move back home. You need to figure it out and make a decision. We all know that Will has feelings for you, but do you have feelings for him?

God, he did, but saying that to Will, the mountain lion shifter, was a whole other story.

How could Jason tell his brother he missed Will before they even got on the plane to Michigan? It was just that Will... was so much. Every time the guy tried to talk to him, Jason clammed up, locked down, and then fucking ran, hauling ass for the family barn.

Fuck, he was confused, and he needed to figure everything out. He could go back. He could see Will again. Hell, he should be paying attention to see if his brothers were going to cause more shit.

Livingston jumped to and ran to open the door, only to stumble as the other chipmunk zipped past him. Jason ran up the steps and held out his arms as if he was going to catch the deer but was five feet behind Livingston. He ended up following Livingston in, trailed by Nikko. Livingston began removing his gloves, then dropped a backpack. Winslow shifted and, Jesus, stood face to face in front of everyone with his naked twin brother. Jason blinked, then blinked again before shuddering. This was disastrous.

Now, it was pretty typical to shift and be naked, but his brothers just stood there, no hiding, no shielding, and letting it all hang out so to speak. Right in front of Livingston! Someone they didn't know!

Livingston murmured to Nikko, "I know I'm damn shy, but even now I'm trying everything I can not to look south and make sure they aren't absolutely identical in all things."

Jason's jaw dropped. Oh hell... the deer was just as nuts!

"Winslow and Sparks, here are your clothes," Nikko said as he pulled out two pairs of jeans from the backpack.

The twins dressed before walking, shirtless, into the living room.

No fucking way. His twin brothers walked right into Livingston's living room and put their feet on his coffee table, grabbed a remote, and then turned on the television. Just like that, they made themselves quite comfortable.

"Nikko, can I talk to you in the kitchen?" Livingston's eyes widened as he stared at Nikko and Jason.

Livingston grabbed Nikko by the arm and pulled him into the kitchen area, and Jason followed behind, leaning in the entryway door. Nikko had the audacity to look guilty. Nikko never felt guilt. He was an evil chipmunk that shared his plots with Livingston here and with Theresa when he was back home. Sure, Nikko, just let your buddy the deer here know he's about to be a victim of one of your devilish plans.

Nikko leaned his ass against the island. "I need a favor from you. Well, Philip and I need a favor from you."

"Does it..." Livingston paused as Winslow walked in and opened the refrigerator. He pulled out the milk carton, drank from it, and put it back in the refrigerator where he'd gotten it. Winslow left with a milk mustache on his face and a shit-eating grin. Winslow even winked at him as he left.

"I have this problem..." Nikko covered his mouth with his hand as he mumbled something.

"Buddy, look, I know you're a hoarder and I still love you." Livingston went over to hug his friend.

Nikko pushed him away. "I am not a hoarder. I store, dammit."

Says every damn chipmunk in our hoarding family.

"Oh," Livingston murmured. "Are you sure, because when we lived together, you had the left side of the cupboard stuffed top to bottom full of every kind of nut and peanut butter you could imagine. Hell, some even seemed to tip on my side, which continually got smaller and smaller the longer we lived together." Livingston held up his hands in defense as Nikko growled. "Not that I minded."

"Jason," Nikko chided. "He's a true friend and well... you know I'm moving in with Dallas." Nikko rubbed the back of his head.

"Yeah," Livingston frowned.

"I think I found someone to cover my side of the rent. Well... if they can find jobs." Nikko chuckled nervously.

Anyone would be out of their fucking minds to hire them.

"Wait." Livingston's eyes bulged as he pointed to the living room, "Them? As in all of them? No way."

"No... uh... just the twins." Nikko shoved his finger through his unruly hair. Unfortunately, Nikko had nothing on him when it came to crazy looking hair; he lived with hair that looked like he stuck his finger in a light socket.

Sparks walked in at that very moment and opened a cupboard. He spotted a jar of peanut butter, unscrewed it, then dipped his finger in. He brought the scoop to his mouth and sucked on it slowly while eyeing Livingston. Was he hitting on the guy? Was that supposed to be sexy? It wasn't. Not. At. All.

Livingston opened a drawer near him and pulled out a spoon, then handed it to Sparks.

"What? You don't like peanut butter?" Sparks winked.

"Sparks," Jason groaned.

"I... eww." Livingston eyed Sparks like he had lost his mind.

Jason was in some damn nightmare.

"What do you mean eww?" Sparks acted insulted. It would go a long way if he didn't have a smudge of peanut butter on the corner of his mouth.

"I mean, your hands were just on the ground. Did you run here in shifter form? Did you wash your hands? You contaminated that whole jar." Livingston waved his hand at the peanut butter.

"Oh that's the chefy prep guy in you." Sparks chuckled as he walked by and patted Livingston on the ass like he was some damn teammate instead of a stranger. Jason cringed as he noticed a smudge of peanut butter on Livingston's jeans.

"Chefy guy? Is he for real?" Livingston asked Nikko.

"They take some getting used to, but you'll never be bored," Nikko chuckled.

"I can't live with those guys," Livingston hissed. "Why can't I have him?" Livingston pointed to Jason.

Jason jumped and pointed to his chest. "Me?"

"Yeah, you... you seem... well, quiet." Livingston waved at him.

Jason glanced over at Nikko as he began to tremble a little. Livingston seemed like a nice enough guy but being removed from all his family would be all kinds of hell for him.

"You can't have Jason. He's... well, he needs to be close to his family. Jason's going to live with Gunner and Phillip."

I believe the word you are looking for, dear brother, is introverted.

Nikko actually appeared a bit sheepish before continuing. "It won't be that long, I promise. We just need a bit of time until something in town opens up."

Livingston's mouth dropped open. "That could be months. Why don't they live with you and Dallas?"

"They can't. You know why. It's only one bedroom, we have no room. Look, I know you're looking for a roommate and need the help with the other half of rent. They're a bit crazy, but I promise you they are nice guys. You'll fall in love with Winslow and Sparks." Nikko approached him and hugged him. "Plus I don't like you living here all alone."

Livingston sighed. "I do hate living here alone. I'm talking to the walls, and it hasn't even been that long. You know me. You think this will be good for me?"

"Just try it. If they become too much trouble for you, I'll talk to Phillip and Gunner. I think in time they'll settle and you three will get along. They've never been outside of Atlanta and well... well, never mind. They'll be hellish," Nikko murmured.

"You were trouble, and I liked living with you." Livingston sighed as he hugged Nikko.

Jason watched. It was clear that Livingston and Nikko were best friends, that his brother had developed a lasting friendship in this town. He hadn't seen any of his family interact with other shifters, outside their mates at Christmas. Is this what it was going to be like living in White Pine? Jason's body trembled. God, he wanted a friend, but the idea of approaching new people about made his heart jump out of his chest.

Nikko chuckled, breaking Jason's thoughts. "Yep, and they're me times two. You'll be good for them too. Hey, look what came out of us living together." Nikko winked at him.

"Okay, I'll give them a try," Livingston breathed out.

Livingston pulled back and smiled at Nikko just as the twins came scurrying by in chipmunk form. They ran around all their legs a couple of times. One took off while the other stopped, patted Livingston on the leg with his tiny paw, and zipped back out.

Jason laughed. "Nikko, you better make sure to start looking fast."

It certainly was going to be interesting. Now Jason just had to figure out where he was going to fit in this town.

That’s the best way to describe Jackie Nacht’s stories. She was introduced to M/M Romance through her sister, Stephani, and read it for years. Then, she thought it was time to put her own stories on paper. Jackie began writing short and sweet stories that ended with a happily ever after.

Thinking back to her own book addiction, where there were many nights Jackie stayed up way too late so she could read just one more chapter—yeah, right—Jackie decided to write short romances for young adults as well as adults. Hopefully, they will give high school and college students, or working men and women something they can read during their lunch hour, in between classes or just when they want to briefly get away from the daily stresses of everyday life.